What's a Good Breathing Exercise to Help Me Sleep?

What's a Good Breathing Exercise to Help Me Sleep? (0:35)

It's often difficult to shut off your brain and drift off to sleep when you get into bed at night. In this video, sleep specialist Michael Breus, PhD, demonstrates a diaphragmatic breathing exercise that can help calm your mind and ease you to sleep.

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So, when we get in bed at the end of the day often times our mind is racing, racing, racing. Number 1 thing I hear is I can't turn off my brain. So, what I have people do now, is a breathing exercise, it's called diaphragmatic breathing. And all it is, is breathing in very very deeply, in through your stomach, up through your chest, holding it for six seconds, and then slowly releasing it.

Doing this about six to eight times in a row can have a dramatic effect, not only in calming you down but helping you sleep.

About Michael J. Breus

Michael J. Breus, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and a fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. He specializes in sleep disorders and is one of only 163 psychologists in the world with his credentials and distinction.